Sermons on Jim Belcher:

1st Things 1st: "Jesus Is Coming Soon" Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Aug 23, 2005

If we believe that Jesus is coming back soon, why don’t we live like it?

With summer winding down and school about to start everybody has been cramming in those last minute vacations… I can remember one summer in particular our family made plans to go to Disneyworld! Now this was a “big deal” for a 10-yr old kid and I remember the anticipation just about as much as I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:36-44

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Problem With The Power Of The Church In America

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 29, 2005

Is the "spiritually superior" attitude that the Corinthians had similar to the attitude found in the American church today?

The Corinthians’ Situation: 1. The Problem: They were living proudly in their spiritual superiority. - vv. 8-13. - Paul points out their pride in their superiority and their position, all of it (from their perspective) a sign of the hand of God. In reality, though, they were far from where God ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:6-13

Denomination: Baptist

Six Marks Of A Spiritual Mentor

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 2, 2005

Paul here explains what it meant that he was a spiritual father to the Cornithians and therein gives us insight into how we can impact others.

The Heart Of The Passage: “Paul is a spiritual father to the Corinthians.” - v. 15. - There are two ways to become a spiritual father. One is to be part of birthing someone to new life. The second is to raise a spiritual child into a spiritual adult (an adoption type of situation). - In both ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:14-21

Denomination: Baptist

Show Me Your Commitment … Through Trials And Temptations

Contributed by Jim Kane on Sep 4, 2005

The second of a series through the book of James

Soon after we returned from vacation last Sunday the boys were on the computer playing baseball. (The game was a father’s day gift to me and they let me play occasionally.) One of the things that I have heard over the years about good pitching and good pitchers is that they have a variety of ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-18

Denomination: Church Of God

Show Me Your Character…through Everyday Living

Contributed by Jim Kane on Sep 4, 2005

The third of a series through the book of James

This past week on ‘Larry King Live’ Larry King interviewed Jessica Hahn, the woman who was part of the Jim Bakker/PTL scandal of almost 20 years ago that affected the reputation of the Christian church as a whole and turned off many people to organized Christianity. As they went to a commercial ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19-25

Denomination: Church Of God

Show Me Your Care For Others… By How You Relate To Others

Contributed by Jim Kane on Sep 4, 2005

The fourth in a series through the book of James

Sundays walking through the book of James. The first Sunday we focused on James 2:14, (Overhead 1) ‘Dear brothers and sisters, what’s the use of saying you have faith if you don’t prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can’t save anyone.’ We were given a snapshot from a nameless preacher ...read more

Scripture: James 3:13

Denomination: Church Of God

Show Me Your Faith… By Your Spiritual Maturity

Contributed by Jim Kane on Sep 4, 2005

The fifth and final sermon in a series through the book of James

In one of his books, James Emery White tells of the Russian-American comic, Yakov Smirnoff’s, initial response to the incredible variety of instant products available in American grocery stores. He said, "On my first shopping trip, I saw powdered milk--you just add water, and you get milk. Then I ...read more

Scripture: James 5:16-18

Denomination: Church Of God

How To Be Filled With The Holy Spirit In Worship

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 6, 2005

What are some of the key truths that can make us people filled with the Spirit regularly?

An Initial Fear: Letting the Holy Spirit fill you and lead you is not about being out of control but under God’s control. - v. 18a - “drunk” - cf. Pentecostal services that are “crazy” or chaotic, like someone who has drunk too much. - Being under God’s control does mean yielding ourselves to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18

Denomination: Baptist

Taking Sin Seriously Within The Church

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 13, 2005

This message deals with the four biggest questions about the lost discipline of church discipline.

Taking Sin Seriously Within The Church - Answering Four Key Questions: 1. What? “The church must discipline serious sin.” - v. 3. - Many have given into the idea that we are to be completely non-judgmental, but “Judge not” is not all Jesus said on the subject. - Matthew 7:1 vs. John 7:24. - ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Dealing With Gossip - "You're Not Going To Believe What I Heard"

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 14, 2005

This message answers 4 of the biggest questions about gossip, including what is gossip (and what’s acceptable conversation) as well as how to deal with someone wanting to share gossip with you.

1. When Is It Gossip And When Is It Acceptable Conversation? “The difference is in motive and accuracy.” - Ephesians 4:15. - One struggle that people have is that they believe that “not gossiping” means ceasing to having any conversation about people and what’s going on in their lives. Most of ...read more

Scripture: James 3:5

Denomination: Baptist

What Happens When Revival Really Comes

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 24, 2004

A look at the diffence between real revival and man-made "revival meetings."

Starting Point: Revival only happens when the fire of God falls from heaven. - v. 38. - I didn’t know how exactly to share this passage, then it occurred to me that what’s in this passage serves as an example for us of a real revival. - too often, we call something a revival that isn’t really ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:38-44

Denomination: Baptist

The Number One Condition Of Answered Prayer

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 24, 2004

What is the condition of answered prayer that Jesus mentioned the most? It’s the necessity of faith.

- The condition of answered prayer that Jesus mentioned most often was faith/notice how many times faith and belief are mentioned in vv. 22, 23, 24. How Much Faith Do We Have? 1. Are you surprised when an answer to prayer comes? - v. 21. - “One of the terrible marks of the diseased state of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:12-24

Denomination: Baptist

The Danger Of Holding Onto A Good Thing

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 24, 2004

Why do we hold onto the good news of what Jesus has done for us instead of sharing it with others in need?

The Path We’ve Trod: - each of these is both true of the lepers and of us in our spiritual pilgrimage. 1. Desperation leads to decision. - vv. 3-4. - they had nothing to lose/they just wanted to live. - they were sick, separated, and starving. 2. God does a miracle at the moment of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 7:3-16

Denomination: Baptist

When You've Done Something You Swore You'd Never Do

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 24, 2004

This passage deals with a horrible sin committed by people who I’m sure didn’t think they could ever sink that low. What does God have to say to those in our congregations who’ve done things that they never thought they would?

- I was going to skip this passage, because, to be honest, it’s disgusting/I’m not saying it isn’t inspired Scripture, I’m not saying that it didn’t happen, I’m just saying that it’s disgusting. - not all of Scripture is pleasant to read. - but God opened up to me a message from within this ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Following The Captain

Contributed by Jim Wright on Aug 25, 2004

This passages shows us how to follow the Captain of our salvation as He leads us to the completion of our glourious salvation in the world to come.

Hebrews 2:5-13 Following the Captain of our Salvation Introduction 1. This year as part of our vacation we planned a camping trip to Sudbury to see Science North (the northern version of Ontario Science Centre) and to experience family camping along the way. 2. Our destiny was Science North, but ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:5-13

Denomination: Baptist